Page 11 of Forever Love-Reimagined

As the shower continued to heat up, I took one nipple into my mouth and sucked as I gently squeezed the other. The sounds coming from her made me think she was as ready as I was.

“The water’s probably warm enough. You still want to join me?” The look in her eye told me there was no question. I stepped into the walk-in shower and let the spray hit me as if washing away all the stress from earlier in the day.

No sooner than I got inside, Steph was on me. Her mouth covered mine as she pinned me against the wall. She pushed her body into me, and her hands slid down my sides and settled on my ass. She pressed one of her thighs between my legs and pulled me closer. She moved closer, urging me to take what I needed from her. I rubbed my throbbing clit on her leg as her lips made their way to my ear.

“We have some lost time to make up for.” While making sure there was no distance between us, she slid her fingers over my center, and with a few slow strokes, she’d given me a release I didn’t even realize I craved.

How did I let it get this off between us? She deserved an attentive girlfriend, and I was ready to be one. Trading places with her, I backed her up until she was seated on the bench. I would show her body the devotion it had been missing.

As I leaned in, the water pelted my back, and I nibbled on her earlobe before sliding my tongue down her neck. Once I hit her collarbone, I sucked lightly on the pulse point. My hands roamed her body—I wanted to touch every inch of her. I dragged my short nails down her stomach as I got on my knees. When I gazed up at her and saw her eyes pleading with me, I hated that I hadn’t realized how distant we had been.

This was my time to prove what she meant to me. I moved my head lower, then slowly peppered kisses from her calf to her hipbone. Then I lifted that leg over my shoulder to give myself better access as I swirled my tongue in circles around her clit.

She arched her back, grabbed my hair with one of her hands, and whimpered as I continued caressing her lips. When I slid two fingers inside her, she involuntarily moved into me. As I glided my tongue up her wet folds, I curled my fingers inside, hitting her sweet spot. She pulled my head back so I was looking her right in the eyes as she screamed out in ecstasy.

When she finally came down, I placed her leg back on the shower floor and carefully made my way to standing. When I was upright, she joined me, pressing her lips to mine before pulling my tongue into her mouth and deepening the kiss. I wanted to get lost in that moment, but she ended it before I could.

As both of us slowed our breathing, I thought of all the things I should say, but all I could come up with was, “I’m so sorry, Steph.”

“I believe you.” She kissed my nose, and I hoped I saw forgiveness in her eyes. “Sometimes, life gets in the way of things. But if we make an effort, it doesn’t have to.” She was right—relationships took work, and it was time to step up.

“I will always want you. You’re my first relationship, and I’m unsure how to navigate sometimes, but I promise I will try to be better for you.”

“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.” She smiled, but it didn’t seem she would return the sentiment. “Now, you finish cleaning up, and I’ll wait for you in bed. This was just our warm-up.”

She exited, and I stayed under the warm water, trying to let the worries leave my body. If I could let go and live in the moment, this could be a night to remember.

The bass was so loud it reverberated through my body. I had no idea where I was, but I was being dragged through a throng of people. My feet were moving on their own accord until something forced me to stop in the middle of a dance floor.

This woman was moving her hips in front of me, and my heart hammered in my chest. I couldn’t see her face, but I recognized her essence. My pulse was racing, and I had a drive to be near her—to touch her. But the way she swayed her body was hypnotizing, and I couldn’t move. Then everything disappeared.

I jolted awake and turned to see Steph sound asleep. She appeared so peaceful, and after last night, I hoped my mind would have been more at ease, but I knew in my heart that she wasn’t the woman in my dream.

Chapter Seven

Leia - Monday

After leaving the bar, I brought Aria back to Full Exposure. I was glad to see Haley hadn’t stayed too late, and we would have the place to ourselves. I unlocked the door and turned off the alarm while she came inside and looked around, seemingly in awe.

“Umm, Leia? Where exactly are we, Leia?”

Her eyes locked onto something through the partition in the studio, and I couldn't help but follow her gaze. To my surprise, I saw a set of handcuffs glinting in the light, secured tightly to the headboard. “Well, I can see how this might look, but I’m a photographer. I take boudoir-type photos. I have tons of props and sets so individuals or couples can come in and act out their fantasies for me to capture the moment for them to use later.”

She stared at me warily, and I sometimes forgot how society trained us to believe anything sexual was dirty.

“I promise they’re classy and sensual at the same time. I could show you, if you’d like.”

“Show me?” She seemed curious as she headed toward the bed and sat down. “What did you have in mind?” She ran her fingers over the fur of the cuffs.

I tilted my head and held my hands up as if framing her inside. “I could get my camera and?—”

“I don’t want you behind a camera. I want you next to me.” She patted the bed as her deep-red hair fanned over her shoulders. Her alabaster skin almost glowed in the studio lights.

She was a contrast to the woman this morning, but I wasn’t trying to find a double. I needed something different—someone different. Aria was stunning, and even though I didn’t have that magnetism to her, there was something I wanted to explore.

“I’d love to join you, but are we talking just for tonight?” I never wanted to lead anyone on, and I couldn’t give more of myself than I had.

“Leia, are you trying to U-Haul me?” She quirked a playful brow.

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